LOS ANGELES — Jarod Gonzales provided some fireworks in the Crusaders season-opener Thursday night.

Gonzales launched a grand slam to right-center field, one big blast for the Northwest Nazarene baseball team, which needed a couple more like it as NNU fell to host Cal State Los Angeles, 7-4.

After back-to-back walks to start the top of the third inning, Andrew Helmstadter singled to left to load the bases for Gonzales.

In his second at-bat as a Crusader, the senior transfer from Gonzaga launched a ball over the wall to give his new team a 4-1 advantage.

The host Golden Eagles (4-0 overall) chipped away though, getting two runs back in the bottom half of the inning, aided by an NNU error, then a three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth which put CSULA on top for good.

The Golden Eagles added a solo run in the bottom of the seventh to pad their lead against an NNU squad making its season debut.

Gonzales had a pair of hits in his NNU debut, sharing the lead for the Crusader offense with Brett Nielsen. Both went 2-for-4 in the ballgame.

NNU pitching ace Jaramy Jacobs worked the first five innings on the hill, striking out five batters, but took a no-decision.

The Crusaders continue their 4-game series at Cal State Los Angeles on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. (Mountain time).